Rack construction for dishwashing machines



' 7, 1957 G. B. FOX ETAL 2,804,213

' RACK CONSTRUCTION FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed March 25, 1953 FIG-1IN VENTORS GERALD B. FOX y LEWIS E.GLEZEN @Mz/W ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 2,804,213 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 RACK CONSTRUCTION FORDISHWASHING MACHINES Gerald B. Fox, Troy, and Lewis E. Glezen, ShakerHeights, Ohio, assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 25, 1953, Serial No.344,562

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-41) This invention relates to racks for dishwashingmachines and more particularly to a rack construction includingremovable spacer ribs.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a dishwasher rackadapted to support dishes, cups, glassware and the like in properposition for washing, rinsing and drying in a dishwashing machine inwhich the ribs for spacing the individual pieces to be washed arereadily removable, and replaceable to facilitate cleaning, repair orreplacement.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a rack in whichthe ribs are in the form of closed loops which may readily be replacedwith 'new ribs when the plastic coating on the ribs becomes worn withuse and the used ribs discarded or recoated, as desired, withoutrequiring replacement of the entire rack.

It is another object to provide a simple and reliable means forretaining the spacers against accidental movement when in operativeposition, and for locking and unlocking them in such position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a rack which may beused with one or more ribs removed for varying the spacing between theribs as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rack having aremovable bottom so that the bottom as well as the ribs may be coated oruncoated as desired, and a coated bottom may be used with the coatedribs and similarly replaced, such bottom being retained in position bythe ribs and easily removable when the ribs are removed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompany ing drawing and the appendedclaims. I

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away of adishwasher rack constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view along the line 22 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; i f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; Y I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of one of the removablespacer ribs; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, Fig. 1 shows a generally rectangular rack 10 having anopen wire framework including opposite pairs of side Walls indicatedgenerally by the numerals 11 and 12 and bottom portions indicatedgenerally by the numeral 13 partially underlying therack along the loweredges of side walls 11 and defining with side walls 12 a central opening14. Bottom portions 13 as shown in the drawing include lower and upperrows of bars 13a extending horizontally between side walls 12. A pair ofhorizontal supporting bars 15 extends between and is secured to theupper row of bars 13a, spaced from and parallel to side walls 12. Bars15 are connected at their center by horizontal tie bar 16 which servesto brace them and to strengthen the rack. Side Walls 11 includevertically extending bars 11a supporting the horizontal bars in thesides 11, and side walls 12 similarly include vertical members 18supporting the horizontal bars in the sides 12.

The parts of this frame-work are formed of a suitable material such assteel wire which is preferably stainless steel or coated with anon-rusting finish such as chromium, and are welded together throughoutin properly spaced relation. I

On opposite side walls 12, vertical portions 18 have their topsextending above the sides of the rack to provide guides for stackingracks on top of each other. Opposite side walls 11 include a pluralityof opposing pairs of horizontally spaced guide members 20, which mayeach be conveniently formed from a single length of steel wire turnedupon itself in the shape of a long narrow U, welded to side Walls 11with their upper ends approximately flush with the top of the frame andhaving the underlying portions at their lower ends extending inwardly inthe direction of the opposite side at approximately a 45 angle, to forman upright portion 21 defining an elongated guide channel open at itsupper end and an underlying portion 22, the bottom of the underlyingportions being spaced somewhat above the plane of supporting bars 15. Asis shown in the drawing,

the guide members on the opposite walls are located in parallel spacedfacing relation with their respective underlying portions 22 extendingtoward each other, defining a plurality of pairs of open slots 25 forremovably receiving spacer or separator ribs 30.

These separator ribs are shown in the form of rectangular closed loopsof steel wire, either of stainless steel or coated with a rust resistantfinish, in the same manner as the frame. For many uses, however, aswhere for example it is desired to reduce the noise of handling dishes,or where the pieces to be washed are likely to chip against the metal,it may be desired to cover the separator ribs with a comparatively softplastic vinyl or rubber-like material. A coated rib of this type isshown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the metal frame 31 is covered with acoating material 32. The material should be one capable of withstandingthe substantial amount of heat and the relatively harsh detergents whichare customarily used in washing and drying dishes and the like. Thematerial known commercially as Plastisol, which is essentially adispersion of polyvinyl chloride in a plasticizer, has givensatisfactory results for this purpose. In coating the ribs, good resultshave been obtained by first dipping the metal ribs in an adhesive basecoat 33, and applying the final coating 32 in a second dip.

The length of spacing ribs 30 should be very slightly less than thespace between opposite side walls 11, and the width of the slotspredetermined with respect to the cross-sectional diameter of thespacing ribs in order that when the ribs are received in correspondingpairs of slots on opposite sides of the frame endwise movement will beprevented by contact with the frame members at each end, and sidewisemovement is prevented by the respective guide members.

It is desirable in use that the ribs should be held securely in theguide members, and additional rigidity is obtained by positioning therespective guide members of each pair at a small angle to a line normalto the plane of the bottom of the tray, the respective members onopposite sides 11 being oppositely aligned in this manner, so that eachguide member is angled slightly away from the vertical in oppositedirections. The loops are thereby slightly twisted or distorted in beingfitted into the guide and guide members to wear against each other whichwould exist if they were loosely fitted, and, in the case of theuncoated ribs, reducing noise. Angling the guide members as describedhas the 'added advantage that .any small cross-sectionaldimensional-variation between coated and uncoated ribs is compensatedfor, as are'any such variations in the diameter 'of replacement .ribs,the ribs being .held resiliently in position by reason .of the twistcaused by the guide members.

The ribs are supported at the bottom on underlying portions 22 of theguide members. Although the frictional engagement of the ribs in theguide members will ordinarily prevent upward movement, the .guidemembers may readily be locked in place, and thedrawing shows lockingmeans in the form of a pin 40 which as appears from Figs. 1 and Amaybeslid bet'ween'portion 22 of the guide members and the closed end portionof rib 80, as indicated by the dotted, lines in Fig. '1. Theend'of thelocking pin is bent over to form .a. stop 4:1for positioning the pin infitting it in place, where it is held ;by frictional engagement betweenthe ribs and guide members.

Although the separator r'ibs maybe used.ini,a framework having an.integral bottom,when coated ribs. are

used it will probably ordinarily be preferable that the bottom of therack also should be coated. Accordingly, aniinterchangeable removableopen bottom 45 is provided which may be of steel wire treated to preventrust :or may be coated with the rubber-like material as described inrespect toribs30. Bottom 45 may conveniently be formed from a pluralityof rectangular closed loops 46 having their ends turned upwardly at 47and welded in spaced position on bars 48.. The loops should beso placedand dimensioned that when the bottom is in position ends 47 will bereceived between vertical portions 18 of sides '12, and thelengthbetween upturned :ends 47 should be such that the bottom will bereceived snuglybetween the sides. Sidewise movement may additionally beprevented by appropriate locking means, such'as rings 49 passed aroundloops 47 and a portion of the side :of the rack as shown in the drawing(Fig. 2).

In assembly or in substituting coated ribs and bottom for the uucoatedform, bottom 45 is first inserted. Ribs are then positioned in slots 25,where by reason of the angling of the guides in opposite directions andthe resilienceof the ribs, theribs are slightly twisted or dis torted soas to be held tightly in place, as described. Locking bar 40 is insertedthrough the spaces defined by underlying portions 22 of the guidemembers and the endportions of ribs 30; until end portion 41 abutsagainst theendmost guide member (Fig. 2), and assembly is;completed-byplacing locking rings49 in position.

The rack in accordance with the invention offers a mum'- ber ofadvantages. As pointed out, the portions ofthe rack coming in contactwith the dishes, glassware, and the like to be washed may be eithercoated oruncoated, as desired, and substitution .of one type for theother is easily made. This is particularly desirable in commercialproduction in that the same frame may :be used with either type ribs andbottom.

From the users point of "view, coated "or uncoated ribs and bottommaybeused interchangeably. If coatedribs. and bottom are used, they mayeasily be discarded or returned to the factory for recoating whenthey'become, worn and a substitute set inserted without necessity forreplacing the complete rack, resulting in substantial savings. The rack,furthermore, is unusually adaptable in use in that by removing some ofthe ribs 30, as desired, the spacing between the ribs can be varied asdesired, and with either form of ribs the rack so provided is strong andlong-lived in use, and adequately firm for the purpose. desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining a bottom and opposite pairs of side walls, apluralityof guide members;

located in spaced relation on one opposite pair of side walls, each saidguide member extending downwardly from the upper portion of said rackand being formed with two laterally spaced wire guides defining anelongated guide channel, the lower portions of said wire guides beingconnected and extending inwardly toward the corresponding oppositeguides, and removable ribs in the form of closed loops fitting betweenoppositepairs of said guide channels and forming spacers for the dishesin said rack.

2. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining a bottom and opposite pairs of side walls, aplurality of guide members located in spaced relation on one oppositepair of side walls,

each said guide member extending downwardly from the upper portion ofsaid rack and being formed with two laterally spaced wire guidesdefining an elongated guide channel, the lower end of each said guidemember being in the form of an underlying portion extending inwardly ofsaid rack and removable ribs coated with a plastic rubber-like materialfitting between opposite pairs of said guide channels and resting onsaid underlying portions to form'spacers for the dishes in said rack.

'3. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining a "bottom and opposite pairs of side walls, aplurality of generally upright elongated guide members located in pairsin spaced relation on one opposite pair of sidewalls, removable ribs inthe form of closed loops fitting between opposite pairs of said guidemembers and forming spacers for the dishes in said rack, said guidemembers of each pair being mounted with diiferent inclinations toproduce a twist in said ribs in operative position resiliently retainingthe same against movement in use.

4. A rack for usein dishwashers and the like comprising. an open wireframework defining a bottom and opposite pairs of side walls, aplurality of guide members located in spaced relation on one oppositepair of side walls, each said guide member extending downwardly fromtheupper portion of said'rack and being formed with two laterally spacedwire guides defining an elongated guide channel, the lower portion ofeach said guide memher extending inwardly of said rack, removable ribseach receivable between a pair of said guide members in an operativeposition, and locking means cooperating with 'said plurality of guidemembers and with said ribs for securing said ribs in their respectiveoperative positions.

5. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining a bottom and opposite pairs of side walls, pairs ofspaced guide members on the inside of an opposite pair of side walls,said guide members extendingto a position above the bottom of said aframework and having their lower portions extending inwardlytoward thecorresponding opposite guide members, removable ribs in the form ofclosed metal loops receivable between a pair of said guide members oneach of said end walls and fitting down upon said lower portions, andmeans cooperating with said ribs and the lower portions of said guidemembers for retaining said ribs in operative position between said guidemembers. I

'6. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like compris ing an open wireframeworkdefining a bottom and opposite pair of side walls, pairs ofspaced guide members on the inside of an opposite pair of sidewalls,said guide members extending toa position above the bottom of saidframework and having their lower portions extending inwardly toward theopposite guide members, removable ribs inthe form of closed metal loopscoated with a plastic rubber-like material receivable between a pair ofsaid guide members on each of said end walls and fitting down upon saidlower portions, and means cooperating with said ribs and the lowerportions" of said guide members for retaining said ribs in operativeposition between said guide members. 7. A rack for use in dishwashersand the like compris;

ing an open wire framework defining a bottom and opposite pairs of sidewalls, pairs of spaced guide members on the inside of an opposite pairof side walls forming slots therebetween, said guides extending to aposition above the bottom of said framework, removable ribs in the formof closed metal loops with their ends receivable in said slots between apair of said guide members on eaoh of said end walls, and a locking pininsertable below a portion of said guide members and above the bottom ofsaid loops to lock said ribs in assembled position within said guidemembers.

8. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining opposite pairs of side walls, a plurality of guidemembers located in spaced relation on one opposite pair of said walls,removable ribs in the form of closed loops fitting between oppositepairs of said guide members and forming spacers for the dishes in saidrack, and a removable open bottom normally received in said frameworkbelow said ribs and retained therein by said ribs when said ribs are inplace.

9. A rack for use in dishwashers and the like comprising an open wireframework defining opposite pairs of side walls, a plurality of guidemembers located in spaced relation on one opposite pair of said walls,removable ribs in the form of closed loops fitting between oppositepairs of said guide members and forming spacers for the dishes in saidrack, a removable open wire bottom normally received in said frameworkbelow said ribs and retained therein by said ribs when said ribs are inplace, and means removably connecting said bottom to said framework forpreventing endwise movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS372,123 Cox Oct. 25, 1887 378,369 Hyer Feb. 21, 1888 655,530 VossbeckAug. 7, 1900 681,658 Potter Aug. 27, 1901 1,461,474 Breer July 10, 19231,595,421 Rose Aug. 10, 1926 2,627,993 Hafner Feb. 10, 1953

